Produce, cottage foods and art featured at market

Fresh and locally grown produce was displayed front and center last weekend as more than a dozen vendors set up shop just outside of Pahrump’s Draft Picks.

The community’s Farmers Market is held each Saturday at the 1101 South Highway 160 location, featuring fruits and vegetables, cottage foods and works from area crafters.

Butch Dole turns wine into jelly.

Dole said the process is fairly simple, while the varieties are endless.

“It’s a regular jelly with a few other ingredients added,” he said while holding a jar aloft. “I just added two new ones, including a White Zinfandel and a mixture between Zinfandel and Moscato. The boiling process cooks out most of the alcohol.”

To create the flavorful condiments, Dole doesn’t have to go very far, as much of his supplies are a short drive from his home.

“I have one made from wines from the Pahrump Valley Winery,” he said. “It’s called Symphony Wine and I sell two sizes. If they bring the ring and the jar back, the next time I will take 50 cents off of their next purchase.”

Jelly wine aside, Dole also had a variety of robust herbs up for sale, which were grown in his own garden.

“I have a couple of fennel plants and artichokes and I also grow my own bay leaves. When my garden really starts growing, I will be bringing more vegetables and herbs down. I’ve been doing the Farmers Market for a little bit over a month. I grew up on a farm, but I kind of got away from it when I was in California.”

Resident Rick Clout calls himself a craftsman, though his work displays his artistic side.

Clout engraves designs into stone, which he’s been doing for just a few years.

Some of his engravings take six to eight hours from start to finish, depending on the size.

“I do custom stone engraving, but I’m not an artist,” he said. “I do this with a sandblasting gun. Business has been OK. I did the Pahrump Valley High School Junior ROTC Trojans stone, which weighs about 1,000 pounds. Right now I am in the process of doing another one for the high school. I’m out here each Saturday and I do other larger shows here in town. If people are interested in my work, they can call me at 775 537-5662.”

Pahrump’s Farmers Market is offered through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office and scheduled each Saturday at the Draft Picks parking lot from 8:30 a.m. unil noon.

For additional information call the extension office at 775 727-5532.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com